Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎270v] (540/678)

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number of reassuring messages to the Legations and chief officials. He then drove into
Tehran, a distance of about 6 miles, holding the dead Shah in his place.
When the Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. and Dr. Scully returned with the news that all was over, they
brought with them a message from the Sadr-i-Azam to myself. His Highness told me
that the Shah was dead, and requested me to inform the Valiahd through Her Majesty’s
Consul-General at Tabriz. His Highness further requested that I would “ beg the Valiahd
to come here at once.”
When I received this message 1 felt that the position was somewhat serious; for
compliance with the Sadr-i-Azam’s request practically involved the recognition of the
Valiahd as Shah, which might commit Her Majesty’s Government to a course they would
have wished to avoid, I therefore thought over the question for some little time before
deciding. It soon, however, became clear to me that my proper course was to do what the
Sadr-i-Azam wished, and to throw all the weight of this Legation at once upon the
Valiahd’s side. Any appearance of hesitation would have done much harm. It would have
raised the hopes of others and encouraged them to put forward their claims, thereby
endangering the peace of the country, and perhaps making the Vaiiabd our enemy for life.
It would also have forced the Sadr-i-Azam to turn to the Russians, who were known
to be in favour of the Valiahd. I should, in fact, have been playing straight into their
hands. If I had known that Her Majesty’s Government or the Government of India held
any strong views as to the claims of any other candidate, the question would have been
more difficult; but 1 had reason to believe that this was not the case, and as the Valiahd
was, in my opinion, the rightful heir, whom we could hardly oppose with any semblance
of justice, I did not think there was much room for doubt. 1 therefore sent a telegram
to Mr. Wood, as desired by the Sadr-i-Azam, and instructed him, if possible, to make the
Valiahd act energetically and lose no time. I also informed your Lordship by telegram of
what I had done.
After these telegrams had been dispatched; 1 made such arrangements as were possible
for the maintenance of order in the Legation, warning the guards and servants that every
one must remain at his post, and that there must be no sign of alarm or excitement.
There was, in fact, nothing of the kind. The gates were kept open, and the Legation
servants went on with their work as usual. It will be understood that the news of the
Shah’s death was not generally known outside, and the Sadr-i-Azam was anxious to gain'
time in order to take measures for the preservation of orders. I am glad to say that
during a rather trying afternoon, while the bad news was spreading, and an outbreak among
the unruly population of the bazaars might have occurred at any moment, the English
people scattered throughout Tehran all behaved well. While the Russian bank closed at
once “forten days.” the English bank remained open, and the telegraph employes did not
leave their offices. Nothing was done to bring discredit on the country.
About 4 o’clock an Italian officer in the Persian service, General Maletta, who is an
Aide-de-camp to His Royal Highness the Naib-es-Sultaneh, came to see me on His Royal
Highness’ behalf. He said the Prince was much distressed and agitated by what had
happened, and most anxious for my advice. I had before the Shah’s death arranged to
go and see Plis Royal Highness that day, and my carriage was ready, so I drove over at
once, taking General Maletta with me. The Prince had left the Palace when he found
his father was dead, and had come to his walled garden of Amerieh, a mile or so from the
Legation and in a comparatively open part of Tehran. As I passed along- the streets I
saw no signs of excitement among the people. The news had evidently not reached them.
Your Lordship is aware that the Naib-es-Sultaneh is the third son of the late Shah, and
was during his father’s lifetime a person of great importance. He was Commander-in-
chief of the Persian army and Governor of Tehran. In common with his elder brother
the Zil-es-Sultan, now at Ispahan, he was regarded as an enemy of the Valiahd, and a
candidate foi the Thione. On the conduct of these two sons of the Shah depended the
chances oi a peaceful succession, for either had it in his power to raise serious trouble.
I felt therefore that the interview to which I was going was important, and that it would
oe well to spctUv as decidedly as possible in order to keep Plis Royal Highness from com-
micting himself to an^ undesiiahle action. I also felt that to avoid misunderstanding X
had better let the Sadr-i-Azam know where I was going and what I meant to say, for the
Naib-es-Sultaneh had always been hostile to him. Accordingly, before starting 1
instructed Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Hassan Ali Khan to inform the Sadr-i-Azam that I had been asked to
see the Naib-es-Sultaneh, and to advise him in his difficulties. I said the advice I intended
to give was that the Naib-es-Sultaneh should at once telegraph to Tabriz and assure the
Valiahd he was the Valiahd s loyal brother and subject. The Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. went to the Palace
with this message and I started for Amerieh.
On arriving at Amerieh I found the gates shut and surrounded by soldiers. I was